Voices of Wrestling Podcast Network

A new series begins on this week's edition of Wrestling Omakase! Imagine, if you will, a fantasy world where some gigantic corporation has purchased both World Wrestling Entertainment and New Japan Pro Wrestling, the two largest wrestling companies in the world. John and their three guests have been named the General Managers of four new brands, and this draft is being held to create their initial rosters. We choose twenty picks each (singles wrestlers and teams) and then at the end of the draft each produce our first supercards with our new rosters! John's guests are all VOW writers this week: editor Alex Wendland (@AlexWendland), contributor and host of Fighting Network Friends Andy LaBarre (@trillyrobinson) and contributor and host of SmarkSports Suit Williams (@SuitWilliams). Who drafts the best roster and puts together the best supercard? You can decide for yourself and then vote in our Twitter poll @wrestleomakase! What favorite wrestler of John's did they forget to put on their draft list and almost forget to draft even after twenty picks? Listen to find out! It's a good time and we hope you have fun following it along!

Rich Kraetsch welcomes Warrior Wrestling promoter Steve Tortorello to chat about his company's massive debut show May 11 from Marian Catholic High School in Chicago Heights, Illinois. 

Tortorello discusses the difficulties of being a first-time promoter, his unique position as a Warrior Wrestling promoter and high school principal, his beginnings in pro wrestling fandom, floating the idea of a wrestling show as a school fundraiser and so much more. 

For more details on Warrior Wrestling's debut or to buy tickets, visit them at http://www.warriorwrestling.net.

Rob's best show ever. Jeff's best show ever. Your best show ever. Plus we profess love for this new guy we never heard of before who is taking Raw by storm, Drew McIntyre.

Chris Harrington (@mookieghana) and Brandon Howard (@brandonthurston) discuss the week’s topics in wrestling business news:

* Update on Greatest Royal Rumble in Saudi Arabia

* ESPN/Fox dual bid for UFC and implications for WWE

* JPMorgan's analysis of WWE business

* Needham's analysis of WWE business

* WWE Board of Directors election from annual shareholders meeting

SUPER-SERVE EDITION (sign-up for $5/month for weekly bonus audio at patreon.com/wrestlenomics) -- 2 hours+ this week! 

* RAW/SmackDown year-over-year viewership comparisons, gender demographics

* Mookienomics on RAW ratings by person

* Mookienomics on YouTube views by person

* Mookie's legal gazette: Titus O'Neil, Brock Lesnar vs. Mark Hunt, Randy Orton's tattoos (yes, really), Michael Elgin

* Brandon's hierarchy of 3 types of pro wrestling promotions

* Bruno Sammartino

Check out Mookie’s work at wrestlenomics.com and indeedwrestling.com. Read Brandon’s latest at WrestlingINC.com.

Email questions and comments to [email protected].

This week on Wrestling Omakase John is joined by first time guest Jahmale (@RealHero12089) to discuss the AJPW Champion Carnival so far! They break down each and every match that's taken place in All Japan's answer to the G1 up through now, from the 4/7 kick off show through 4/18\. Hear their thoughts on Yuji Hino's reign of FUCKING BOMB terror, Naomichi Marufuji coming back to where he started, Yoshitatsu hating the BULLET CLUB until the day he dies, Kento Miyahara doing typical Kento Miyahara things, and much more! Once they're done recapping the matches that have already taken place they go over the standings and then discuss the remaining schedule and who they think might be going on to the finals. Finally after the AJPW talk is over they do some brief talk of the ongoing Dragon Gate situation. It's a lot of All Japan and a little bit of Dragon Gate, this week on Wrestling Omakase!

This week on a special two-part edition of the Voices of Wrestling flagship podcast:

Part 1 - Rich Kraetsch talks with Shake Them Ropes co-host Jeff Hawkins about WWE's Superstar Shakeup, The Greatest Royal Rumble, HBO's Andre the Giant documentary and the unfortunate passing of both Bruno Sammartino and Paul Jones. 

Part 2 - Rich Kraetsch welcomes back friend of the show, "The People's Rapper" Jon Connor to talk his WrestleMania experience, thoughts on fans ruining the WrestleMania main event and much more!

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Much like "brother" YASSHI's random breaks where he shows up randomly to join an unit, Open the Voice Gate is back to talk all about that has happened in March and April in Dragon Gate! Milo and Mike break down Champion Gate, discuss the retirement and career of Kotoka, talk in depth, and reveal some new news, about the ongoing rumor mill about DG, Oriental Wrestling Entertainment and CIMA, look ahead to a very exciting Dead or Alive card and the upcoming King of Gate tournament. Milo and Mike also review the newly launched Dragon Gate Network, discuss its strengths and failings and what they'd like to see from DGNet in the future. Then the pair bust open the mailbag to talk about the Triangle Gate reigns of the Zetsurins along with our dream Dragon Gate Cage Match stipulations!

The episode's image comes from @dg_kh_s, check them out for some awesome DG at Korakuen photographs!

Please follow us at @openvoicegate, rate and subscribe at the podcast index of your choice and tell someone who might be interested in Dragon Gate to give us a listen!

Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! On this episode of Music of the Mat, Andrew is joined by Voices of Wrestling's Sean Sedor to discuss the theme history of one of their favorite wrestlers ever, Daniel Bryan!

Rob and Jeff run down a wild weekend for WWE. Bobby Lashley returns, No Way Jose and Ember Moon debut, Ronda Rousey's first WWE match, Brock Lesnar retains, Asuka's streak ends, and so much more. We deliver STR in two takes because one take just isn't enough for WWE WrestleMania 34 talk!

Chris Harrington (@mookieghana) and Brandon Howard (@brandonthurston) discuss the week’s topics in wrestling business news:

* Snow, a tangent on YouTube revenue, plugs

* WWE Greatest Royal Rumble

* Ronda Rousey announced for 4 dates on WWE Europe tour

* Brock Lesnar re-signs with WWE

* Detailed look at WWE Network subscriber announcement Q&A

* A look at full season of Mixed Match Challenge viewership

* NWL folds

SUPER-SERVE EDITION (sign-up for $5/month for weekly bonus audio at patreon.com/wrestlenomics) -- 2 hours+ this week!

* WWE Network survey for international subscriber

* Upcoming WWE annual shareholders meeting

* Top WWE merchandise sellers

* Mookie & Brandon's costs for their WrestleMania trip to New Orleans

* CIMA working with OWE in China, NWA in China

* AroLucha update

* Mookie's legal update

* Brandon's modern wrestling philosophy argument

Check out Mookie’s work at wrestlenomics.com and indeedwrestling.com. Read Brandon’s latest at WrestlingINC.com.

Email questions and comments to [email protected].